Tape dispenser and applier



Dec.`l 5, 1950 s. H. BoBRQv Er AL l2,532,597

TAPE DISPENSER APPLIER Filed July 14, 1949 IN V EN TORS'.'

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEiCE TAPE DISPENSER ANDAPPLIER Samuel H. Bobrov and Sol A. Bobrov, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 14, 1949, Serial No. 104,784

(Cl. 21S- 33) Claims.

This invention relates to a tape dispenser and applier machine andparticularly to a machine dispensing and applying pressure sensitivetape. `Pressure sensitive tape of the type that remains tacky at alltimes and does not require any preparation, such as moistening, is wellknown.

with minimum of trouble and eiort. The invention hereinafter describedis an improvement upon vthe invention described and claimed in theco-pending application of Samuel H. Bobrov, Serial No. 3315, filedJanuary 20, 1948. In the above identied application, a dispenser and ataper is described and claimed wherein an end of the tape is alwaysavailable for starting a taping operation. Such a structure is appliedto the surface to be taped by laying the same on the surface whiledepressing or operating a suitable handle for releasing the tape. Thedispenser and taper is then moved rearwardly of the tape end, the tapeunwinding and being applied as the device is moved. When it is desiredto cut the tape from the roll, the lever or handle is released whilestill moving the dispenser and taper, the rearward motion of the devicenow serving to sever the used tape and press the same against thesurface to be covered. In another form of the invention described in theabove identified application, a device is disclosed wherein the articleis moved rather than the dispenser, the underlying principle however,remaining the same.

In the dispenser described and claimed inthe above identifiedapplication, the tape'severing means consists of a number of spines orthorns'of various shape and length which are forced in'to the tape andcause the tape to rip across the length of the strip. The device formingthe subject matter of the present invention vimproves upon the earlierconstruction in providing a different tape severing and holding meansand also providing some modification of the dispenser structure in orderto permit proper cooperation between the tape and the various portionsof the structure including the severing means so that proper cuttingaction of' the tape will occur.

A structure embodying the present invention is characterized by`simplicity and economy in manufacture as well as ruggedness andcertainty in use. In general, the improvement provides a more or lessconventional cutting means such as a saw-toothed tape cutting edge suchas used, for example, in hacksaw blades or the like. The cutting meansis disposed to cooperate with holding means in a novel manner so as tocooperate with the tape to provide proper severance and leave adepending tape end which may be readily available for use in a newtaping operation.

For a more complete description of the invention,v reference will now bemade to the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side view with certain partsbroken away of a dispenser and taper embodying the present invention.Figure 2 is a section upon broken line 2-2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is asectional detail upon line 3 3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a detail fromthe bottom of the machine along line 4-4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is adiagrammatic showing of the device shown in Figure 1 in normalcondition. Figure 6 shows the' device of Figure 5 being used to start ataping operation by depressing or actuating the control lever. Figure 7is a diagrammatic view showing the device feeding and applying tape.Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the device when tape feeding is to beterminated and the lever is being released to initiate the tape cuttingpart of'the cycle. Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View of the device afterthe tape has been cut.

Referring to Figures l to 4 inclusive, the dispenser and taper comprisesa housing generally indicated by numeral I0, the housing being of anyrigid material, either metal or plastic. Housing il) comprises sidewalls il and i2 of the shape shown connected together by transverse wallI3. For convenience, the device will be assumed to be in the normalposition shown in Figure l, with the front of the dispenser indicated byf5 and the rear of the dispenser indicated by I6.

The bottom of housing lil has the two side walls connected by cover I8pivoted at i9 for transverse movement. Side walls il and l2 carryspindle 2| having handle 22 and threaded end 23 with which is adapted tocooperate nut 2li carried by the housing. Spindle 2l passes through theside walls, handle 22 being on one side of the housing and nut 23 beingon the other side of the housing. Rotatively disposed over spindle 2| isspool 25 of wood, cardboard or any other suitable material. This spoolhas roll 26 of pressure sensitive tape tightly disposed thereon.

In order to provide a frictional drag upon feeding of the tape, brakemeans are provided. The means shown consists of apertured flat spring 28through which spindle 2| passes and which is adapted to bear against theside of spool 25. Spring 28 includes leaf 29 rigidly attached at 33 tothe inside of one of the housing sides, in this instance side Il. It isunderstood that other well-known means for securing and maintaining aroll of tape and imposing a frictional drag upon the feeding of the tapemay be provided. While the device can operate without tension on thetape, satisfactory and assured operation will require tape tension.

Carried by sidewalls l l and l2 is smooth guide 32. It is not essentialthat guide 32 be rotatable although in some instances this may bepreferable. The diameter of the guide is unimportant within substantiallimits.

Pivoted coaxially with guide 32 is presser frame 36 of any desiredshape. This presser frame preferably has a portion extending orprojecting above the housing through a suitable slot. Presser frame 35carries tapering roller 38. Roller 38 is pivotally secured on a pincarried by the presser frame so that the roller may turn easily. Whilethe roller may be made of any desired material, rubber or other fiexiblematerial is particularly desirable.

Roller 38 is movable in a generally vertical direction. The upward limitof movement is shown in Figure 1 and may be determined by the edge ofthe housing slot acting as a stop for presser frame 33. This topposition of taping roller 38 is generally unimportant and may be variedto suit requirements. Taping roller 38 is movable downwardly, as seen inFigure 1, so that the roller will project outside of the region or spacedefined by the housing, the housing being open at 4U to provide anopening through which tape may eX- tend for application.

It is understood that roller 38 is at least as wide as the tape and isalways located above the nonadhesive side of the tape. The position oftaping roller 38. when moved downwardly, is such that it is forward ofguide 32. presser 36 pivots around guide 32 and it is not even necessarythat the motion of roller 38 be arcuate around any particular point.

Presser frame 36 and the roller are normally biased in an upwardposition as shown in Figure 1 by coil spring #i2 disposed around guide32 at one side thereof and having the ends of the coil spring anchoredrespectively to the presser frame and housing. Other means for obtainingthis biased position of the presser frame may be utilized.

Opening 4l] of the housing is in part defined by end portion 44 of hingeportion i8. End portion 44 extends inwardly and upwardly of the housingand at its end carries a holding roller. This roller may be constructedin any one of a number of ways and, as shown here, consists of sleeve 41rotatable on pivot pin 38. Pivot pin 48 is supported at the end of thehinge portion by bending the metal over, the hinge portion itself beingslotted at 55 to provide clearance for idler 41. Roller 41 normallycontacts the tacky side of the tape. The axis of roller d? is forward ofthe a-Xis of guide 32. However, the axis of guide 32 is above and to therear of the axis of roller 38 when in its lower tape applying position.In the upper position of taping roller 38, holding roller 41 retains thefree tape end elevated.

Carried at the forward end and at the bottom of the dispenser housing istape pressing means It is not necessary that A such as roller 52preferably of iexible material such as rubber. Roller 52 may berotatably secured on pin 53 carried by the housing. Roller 52 functionsto press the tape home and may be replaced by a shoe, runner or othersuitable means. Adjacent to roller 52 and to the rear thereof is tapecutter 55 rigidly supported at its ends by bolts 56 and 5l carried bythe sides of the dispenser housing. Tape cutter 55 is preferably ofmetal and most conveniently of steel having teeth 58 of any desired sizeand shape. The cutter and teeth may consist of hacksaw stock or similarmaterial. A simple knife edge may also be used. The cutting edge facesrearwardly. Preferably, though not necessarily, the row of teeth 53extends obliquely across the dispenser housing so that end 6l! of thecutter is wider than end 6! of the cutter. Rear edge 63 of the cuttermay be straight and is preferably disposed adjacent to tape pressingroller 52.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that the plane dened by the flat portion ofhinge portion I8 at the bottom of the dispenser has cutting teeth 58therein, although this may be varied with the cutting teeth beingdisposed somewhat above or below this plane.

As shown in Figure 4, taping roller 38 in its bottom position has aportion thereof in close proximity to at least part of the teeth of thetape cutter. Thus wide portion 6B of the cutter has the teeth spacedadjacent to taping roller 33 when in its tape applying position. Thecloseness of spacing between the cutter teeth and roller 38 will dependin a substantial manner upon the design of the dispenser and thegeometry of the various parts. In the event that cutter teeth 58 extendtransversely straight across the housing, it is preferred to have allthe teeth in substantial proximity to roller 38.

It is possible to feed the tape in either of two Ways, one path of thetape being shown in full lines and the other path of the tape beingshown in dotted lines. The principal difference between the two pathsrelates to the position'of the tape with reference to guide 32. Thus inthe full line position of the tape, guide 32 is not use-d at all whereasin the dotted line position of the tape, the tape is moved around thebottom of the guide as shown.

By proper proportion of the position and height of roller` 47 above thebottom of the housing and proper location of the tape cutter as well asselection of the downward position of roller 38, it will be found thatthere will be a strip of tape always projecting forwardly of holdingroller il and clear of the bottom of the device. Thus referring toFigure 5, when the dispenser is placed upon a surface to be taped, thisend portion of the tape Will be poised in the housing above the desiredsurface.

In order to enable the starting of a taping operation, the length ofthis end portion of the tape projecting beyond holding roller tl shouldat least be equal in length to the sum of the perpendicular distancefrom the top of holding roller 4l to the base of the machine plus halfthe diameter of tape applying roller 38.

As previously explained, the object of holding roller 4l is to maintainthe projecting end of the tape strip in an elevated position above thebase of the machine after a cutting operation, in order to avoid thepossibility of accidental fouling of the tacky tape against outsidesurfaces. By referring to Figures 1 and 5 it will be seen that each ofthe twofmethods of threading the guide 32, as indicated by the dottedline, the tape span stretching between guide 32 and holding roller 41maintains its free end somewhat higher than when the tape is threaded asindicated by the solid line. Thus while under normal conditions holdingroller -41 alone will suffice to maintain the projecting tape end atsatisfactory elevation, unusual conditions may arise, such as highatmospheric temperatures, or poor tape quality, when it may be advisableto employ the alternate dotted line method of threading the tape aroundguide 32 and obtain a resulting in preparation for a taping operation.As seen in Figure 7, with presser frame 36 still depressed, thedispenser is moved rearwardly as shown by the arrows, the tape beingpaid out. When it is desired to cut the tape, presser frame 36 isreleased, the dispenser still being moved rearwardly along the surfaceto be taped. With taping roller 38 elevated, the tape will be forcedagainst the teeth of cutter by rearward movement of the machine and atransverse tear will be started across the tape. the dispenser is stillbeing moved rearwardly so that the severed end of the tape on the paperor other surface will be pressed downwardly by roller 52. The free endof tape will assume either of the positions shown in Figure 9 with therelease of tension upon the tape. In each position, the end of the tapeis well within the housing. Thus the dispenser may be left in anyposition upon any surface with the assurance that no sticking of thetape to any article will occur when not desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for holding a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape andapplying desired lengths of such tape to an object, said machinecomprising a housing having a mouth at the housing bottom, means in saidhousing for supporting said roll so that tape may be paid out, saidhousing having a bottom portion dening the rear of said mouth, saidbottom portion and applied tape defining a plane, a cutter supportedacross the mouth opening near the forward portion of the mouth, saidcutter having its edge facing rearwardly of the housing above saidplane, a tape applier having at least an edge for cooperation with thenon-adhesive side of tape, means for mounting said applier so that itnormally rests above said plane but is freely movable generallyvertically so that the applying edge at least reaches said plane to therear of said cutting edge, at least one holding tape guide disvposedbetween the tape roll and applier within the housing and well above saidplane, said applier and guide normally contacting the nonadhesive andadhesive sides respectively of the tape during taping with the applierbeing clear of the tape during tape severing and stand-by conditions.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said holding tape guideincludes a roller.

In the meantime,

'3. A machine forholding a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape andapplying desired lengths of such tape to an object, said machinecomprising a housing having a mouth at the housing bottom, means in saidhousing for supporting said roll so that tape-may be paid out,

means at rthe forward end of the housing defining the vforward end ofthe mouth and including at least an edge transverse to the mouth forpressing tape against said object, said housing having a bottom portiondening the rear ci said mouth, said bottom portion and tape pressingedge defining a plane, a cutter supported across the mouth opening nearthe forward portion of the mouth, said cutter having its edge facingrearwardly of` the housing above said plane, a tape applier having atleast an edge for cooperation with the non-adhesive side of tape, meansfor mounting said applier so that it normally rests above said plane butis freely movable generally vertically so that the applying edge atleast reaches said plane to the rear of said cutting edge, at least oneholding tape guide disposed between the tape roll and applier within thehousing and well above said plane, said applier and guide normallycontacting the nonadhesive and adhesive sides respectively of the tapeduring taping with the applier being clear of the tape during tapesevering and stand-by conditions.

4. A machine for holding a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape andapplying desired lengths of such tape to an object, said machinecomprising a housing having a mouth at the housing bottom, means in saidhousing for supporting and braking said roll so that tape may be paidout under tension, means having at least an edge across the mouth at theforward end of the housing defining the forward end of the mouth forpressing tape against said object, said housing having a bottom portiondefining the rear of said mouth, said bottom portion and tape pressingmeans defining a plane, a cutter supported across the mouth opening nearthe forward Iportion of the mouth, said cutter having its edge facingrearwardly of the housing above said plane, a tape applier having atleast an edge for cooperation with the non-adhesive side of tape, meansfor mounting said applier so that it normally rests above said plane butis freely movable generally vertically so that the applying edge atleast reaches said plane to the rear of said cutting edge, at least oneholding tape guide disposed between the tape roll and applier within thehousing and well above said plane, said applier and guide normallycontacting the nonadhesive and adhesive sides respectively of the tapeduring taping with the applier being clear of the tape during tapesevering and standby conditions.

5. A machine for holding a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape andapplying desired lengths of such tape to an object, said machinecomprising a housing having a mouth at the housing bottom, means in saidhousing for supporting and braking said roll so that tape may be paidout under tension, means including a r-oller at the forward end of thehousing defining the forward end of the mouth for pressing tape againstsaid object, said housing having a bottom portion defining the rear ofsaid mouth, said bottom portion and tape pressing portion of the rollerdefining a plane, a cutter rigidly supported across the mouth openingnear the forward portion of the mouth, said cutter having its cuttingedge facing rearwardlyv of the housing above said plane, a tape applierhaving at least an edge for cooperation with the non-adhesive side oftape, means for mounting said applier so that it normally rests abovesaid plane but is freely movable generally vertically so that theapplying edge at least reaches said plane to the rear of said cuttingedge, Aat least one holding tape guide disposed between the tape rolland applier Within the housing and above said plane, said applier andguide normally contacting the non-adhesive and adhesive sidesrespectively of the tape during taping with the applier being clear ofthe tape during tape severing and stand-by conditions. SAMUEL H.BOBROV.- SOL A. BOBROV.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,192,634 Blomquist Mar. 5, 19402,235,704 Gorbatenko et al. Mar. 15, 1941 2,368,262 Oftedahl Jan. 30,1945 10 2,452,584 Luebkeman Nov. 2, 1948

